Lola looked up at Puca. Her cheeks flaming red, her wild purple hair a mess. He was right. She was tired even through the embarrassment she felt at falling on Lu and the way he had held her. She bit her lip as she turned away from the men and trudged down the hallway to her bedroom.
“Let me know if you need anything,” she said over her shoulder.
Lu’s body had been surprisingly muscular underneath her. She shook away the thought and opened the door to her bedroom. Reaching into the darkness, feeling the smooth white wall for the switch. Finally finding it, she flipped the switch on. Letting out a sigh of relief.
Lola knew it was a silly fear for an adult to have. Being afraid of the dark, but that didn’t make it any less real for her. She closed the door behind her as she stepped into the softly lit room and fell face first onto her bed.
Burying her face into the handmade quilt, her body sinking into the soft surface as she thought about the quilt beneath her.
The one she and her grandmother had made together the winter before she had passed away. Sitting by the fireplace with their sewing machines set up. Humming away quietly while they chatted. It was a good memory, one that she would treasure forever.
It filled her with happy thoughts just looking at the purple and yellow squares, wrapping herself in it felt almost like a hug from her grandmother and she savored the feeling.
What she wouldn’t give to hear her grandmother’s voice one more time. The melodic southern tones always make her feel at ease. She felt a pang of loneliness as the ache in her chest deepened.
She kicked off her shoes and burrowed deeper into the bed, twisting her body so she could pull the covers over herself. Not bothering with getting cleaned up. She could shower in the morning, maybe they would be some elaborate hallucination and she would be alone again.
***
“She’s like us,” Puca spoke. His deep voice filling the quiet room, his golden gaze lingering on the closed bedroom door.
“Aye, she is,” Merrow said from beside him, his arms crossed as he looked at the door and then back to his friend and often times lover.
“She even looks fae,” Puca said, moving to the quilts that sat on the chair.
“That she does,” Merrow agreed as he stared at the closed door. Thinking about the girl on the other side, even if her hair had been its natural color. He would still be able to tell she was fae.
“We shall find out, leannan.” Puca said as he nudged Merrow’s shoulder. He handed the merman a blanket and motioned for him to lie down on the pallet as he stripped his shirt off.
Bodach was making a pallet for himself as he listened to the two men talk about Lola. He had to agree that she was something else. Something about her stirred to life the darkness that lay in him.
He couldn’t help but wonder what type of fae she could be?
He lay down on the soft quilt and felt his head sink into the down pillow he let out a sigh of pleasure. He closed his eyes.
Inside of their prison, they hadn’t had bedding this soft, they hadn’t had bedding at all and this felt like heaven. It would be even better if Lola were curled up beside him. Her warmth seeping into his skin. He bit his lip softly as he thought of the swell of her breasts pressed against him. He could trail his hand from her silky hair down across her shoulder, over the curve of her hip. His hand caressing the soft curve of her bottom before the sharp smack of his hand made her moan with a sharp gasp.
He opened his eyes, shaking his head. What was Lola that she made him feel like this?
Bodach had never felt this way about anyone before, human or not. He rolled over onto his side, trying not to imagine how she would look after a good tumble. Her purple locks loose about her shoulders. Her lips swollen from his kiss as she curled up next to him. Wearing nothing but a satisfied smile.
He bit his lower lip harder with a growl. It was going to be a very long and uncomfortable night for him.
On the couch Lu lay, his arm tossed over his eyes as he feigned sleep, listening to Merrow and Puca. He couldn’t help but smirk at the growl he heard coming from Bodach, he knew that sound well.
It was the sound of frustration, and a small part of the leprechaun took great pleasure in that sound. Just as he had for much of their time in that cursed box. He himself was feeling just as frustrated as he thought about how Lola had felt against him. Her chest pressed to his own as she had struggled against him. Waking something in him that he hadn’t felt in ages, longing.
A longing desire for the touch of a lover. He wanted more, though. Something about how she had spoken to him earlier as he drank her wine had piqued his interest. Lu couldn’t wait to see how far he could push her. To see how she looked with her eyes sparkling in anger. Would her skin flush, or would she be covered in that blush that made her glow earlier?
Author's note: You can now buy the paperback book on amazon <3
Lola rolled over onto her back as she scrubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She’d been having the strangest dream.In it, she had been trapped in a dark room. No way to get out, just endless darkness. The only sound was her ragged breathing and the frantic pounding of her heart as she desperately dragged her hands across the smooth walls. Trying to find any way out.She bit her lip as she looked around the bright sun-filled room and let out a deep breath. It was quiet and still. She wondered for a moment if she had imagined everything that had happened yesterday.A loud bang came from the kitchen and she sat up, eyes wide. Either someone was breaking in or there really were fae creatures in her apartment. She untangled herself from the warm bedding and her feet hit the floor. She grabbed the baseball bat from under her bed before opening the door.The polished wood and leather laces feeling comfortable in her hands as she brought the bat up. Ready to swing hard and fast at any intruder.
Lola placed a pan over the open flame with a bit of butter stepping over to the toaster she added bread to it. Moving back to the pan to give it a swirl. The steady thwack, thwack of Lu chopping the chives at the counter was soothing as she moved about the kitchen.The toast popped up and Lola grabbed it from the toaster, moving it between her hands as she grabbed a plate.“What magic is that?”“The toaster?” Lola asked.“Toaster.” Lu repeated, watching as Lola added more slices to the slim silver device and pressing the little lever.He did the next round, picking up the toasted bread and studying it closely. He grabbed two slices and add them to it, moving closer to watch as it went down and the coils inside of the device turning orange.Lola smiled to herself as she added the eggs to the pan before dumping the chives in. She stirred the eggs until they were fluffy. The smell making her mouth water, she glanced over at Lu, “Would you mind grabbing the plates with the toast for me?”W
Lola walked down the sidewalk, looking down as she touched her cheeks. Thinking about the kiss that almost happened with Merrow. She didn’t know if she had wanted him to kiss her or not when Lu had interrupted them. His bright eyes studying them intently before he raised a thick eyebrow at the merman. “Cleaning, aye?” He asked as he stepped into the kitchen breaking up the moment, Lola looked back up at Merrow as he studied her lips before stepping back. His sea-green eyes moving to her eyes as she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. Lola couldn’t help but wonder what he would have done if they hadn’t been interrupted?“Aye, we are.” Merrow frowned as he looked over at Lu with a scowl. “I guess I’ll be heading out then,” Lola said stepping away from the handsome man, “If you get bored, you guys can watch some television. I’ve got Netflix.” She said missing their confused gazes as she headed into the living room.“Are you ready?” Bodach asked as he
“Would you like to come in with me?” Lola asked as she tucked her cellphone into her bag.“Nay,” he said, shaking his head as he looked at the chimes beside the door. The thick iron bells clanging in the slight breeze.“I’ll be quick then.”“Take you’re time, I’ll be waiting for you.” Bodach said as he leaned against the porch railing. Looking out over the yard, he let out a sigh as the door closed behind him.***Lola stepped outside, the brown paper package clutched close to her chest. The redwood jewelry box wrapped up nice and safe. She glanced around the porch for Bodach. He had chosen to stay outside, Lola could understand that. If she had been trapped for as long as he had in that box she wouldn’t want to be indoors more than she had to either.Debating with herself about planning a picnic for the men, she wondered if they would like that? Maybe they could go for a hike on one of her favorite walking trails.Looking out onto the well-manicured lawn, she frowned. Bodach wasn’t th
Opening the door to her apartment, the cool air hit Lola in the face and she let out a soft sigh of pleasure as she walked in. Slipping off her shoes. Bodach stepped behind her, his body responding to the sound she made as his eyes moved along the exposed skin of her shoulders. He found himself wanting to hear that sound again. “Where shall I put this?” He asked, shifting the box in his hands. Bodach had a strange feeling about it, but didn’t want to say anything to alarm Lola until he was sure. “Oh, um. On the coffee table is fine.” Lola said over her shoulder as she walked to the kitchen. She passed Lu, Puca, and Merrow smirking to herself as she caught sight or what they were watching with a roll of her eyes. “Really guys?” “Your scrying mirror seems to be broken.” Merrow glanced over to Lola as he spoke, his face flushing at being caught in this act of voyeurism.“The television?” Lola raised an eyebrow, “Seems to be working just fine to me.” “But these men, they’re all her
Walking down the sidewalk, Lola was lost in thought. Unaware of the four men that followed her. She turned down the street, stopping to wait at the crosswalk as she waited for the light to change.Shifting the box to her side as she clutched it with one arm. Smoothing her ponytail. Before all but skipping towards the antique shop as the light changed. An older gentleman with red hair and deep chocolate eyes held the door open for her. His toothy grin sent shivers down her spine.“Thank you,” she whispered as she hurried past him, unable to shake the eerie feeling he gave her.The bells twinkled above the door as Lola walked into Erik’s antique shop. It was quiet except for the whistling of the kettle. “Erik?” Lola called out as she stepped up to the cash register. Sitting the box down gently on the counter, she brushed her hands over her top, smoothing the material down. She couldn’t wait for Erik to see it. Walking out of the back room with his nose buried in a book. He moved towar
Stepping out of the kitchen, Lola walked towards the front with a frown.Why would she have a visitor at Erik’s shop? Then she saw him, his golden eyes blazing as he looked at her and her mouth went dry.Puca stood stiffly by the front door, his jaw clenched as he looked from her to Erik. She knew that he found her attractive, that he may have said that they wouldn’t sleep with her. The look in his eyes said something else, that he wanted to throw her over his shoulder and drag her back to the apartment. Pushing her hair out of her eyes, she tried to quash down the thrill that thought sent through her. She knew she shouldn’t feel this way for someone she’d just met. “Erik, this is my friend Puca.” Lola said introducing the two before she turned back to look at Puca, “Puca, this is my boss Erik. What are you doing here?” She said barely holding her smile in check as she spoke through her teeth.“I came to offer to escort you back home.” Puca stood taller. Smoothing the front of his s
Lola stopped, pulling her hand from Puca’s grasp. As she came to a stop and looked up at him, “I said I was coming back home soon, what are you doing?” “Getting you out of danger.” Puca turned to look at Lola. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes shone in the sunlight. “I wasn’t in any danger.” Lola said as she glared up at him, “Erik is my friend.”Puca held up his hands showing her the healing scorched skin, “There is something in there that isn’t safe.” Lola stepped closer, taking his burnt hand in her own so she could study his palm, “Don’t be ridiculous, why are you hurt? And why do you think there is something in the store that’s dangerous?” “Iron, it was on all of the doors. The windows too, even the bells.” Puca said, watching the wisp of purple hair that escaped her ponytail and caressed her shoulder. “I don’t understand.” “Iron hurts my kind. The runes traced into the box you found us in were sealed in it. I don’t know why it didn’t hurt you.” He brought his